Corn-planter.



No. 705,05l. Patented luly 22, |902. n ELEY CORN PLANTER.

(Application filed Apr. 18, 1901.)

4 Sheets-Sheet NO Modl.)

Ll/11448 6464f No 705,05l. Patented July 22, I902.

D. ELEY.

CORN PLANTER.

(Application filed. Apr. 18, 1901.)

4 $heets-Sheet 2.

(NoModeL) No. 705,05l. Patented July 22, I902. D. ELEY.

CORN PLANTER.

(Application flied Apr. 8B, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

N0. 705,05l. Patented July 22, I902.

D ELEY CORN PLANTEB.

(Application fl led Apr. 18, 1901.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

DAVID ELEY, OF LAKEFORK, OHIO.

CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,051, datedJ'uly 22, 1902.

Application filed April 18, 19Q1.

To all whont may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID ELEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lakefork, in the county of Ashland and State of Ohio, have invented newand useful Improvements in Corn-Planters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to corn-plan ters; and its objectis to generally simplify and improve the construction and increase the practical efficiency of planters of this class; and to this end it consists in certain improved features of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a corn-planter embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 isa vertical longitudinal section. Fig. t is a front elevation of the controlling compensating gearing for throwing the dropper mechanism into and out of action. Fig. 5 is an outer sidejview of the double bevel-gear thereof and the lower end of the controlling rod or shaft. Fig. 6 is a central cross-section through the gearing shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a perspective View showing the lower end of the contro1ling-rod and associated parts. Fig. 8 is asimilar view showing the upper end of the controlling-rod and associated parts, the parts being separated and arranged in their proper relative positions. Fig. 9 is a cross-section through the detent-plate shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective View of the upper end of the controlling-rod and spring connected thereto. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the hopper and feed-chute. Fig. 12 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 13 is a section on the line 00 m of Fig. 12, showing the feed-plungers. Fig. 14 is a detail perspective View of the bevel-pinion which drives the rotary feed-plate of the hopper. Fig. 15 is an end and a side view of the bevelgear which drives said bevel-pinion and the tappet lug or block cooperating therewith. Fig. 16 is a perspective View showing the various parts of the feed mechanism disassociated and arranged in their proper relative positions. Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing the controlling devices of the reversifierial No. 56,391. No model.)

gages the distance pers, and 7the discharge-tubes or seed-chutes connected at their upper ends to the hoppers and at their lower ends to said shoes. The bottom 8 of each hopperis flanged or channeled to receive the lower edge of the hopperbody and is hinged at one side, as shown at F), to the upper front portion of the seedchnte 7 and is held secured at its rear side to said chute by means of a set-screw 10, mounted in a bracket 11, projecting from the upper rear side of the chute. By this construction the hopper is adapted to be tilted forward to permit of ready access being had to the seed-dropping mechanism to apply and remove interchangeable feed-disks to drop more or less seed, as desired. The

bottom 8 has afe ed-opening 10, through which the seed is discharged from the hopper, and has mounted thereon a housing 11,

in which are arranged two vertically-movable spring-actuated plungers 12, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. Mounted upon the top of the seed-chute 7 is a supporting-plate 13, having a central opening 14 and a feed-hole 15 located beneaththe housing 11. Between thisplate and the bottom 8 of the hopper is arranged a rotary feed-disk 16, in which are formed two or more feedholes 17 and a central hole 18, provided at diametrically opposite points with notches 19. The feed-holes 17 form with the slotted portion of the supporting-plate 13 pockets for the reception of a predetermined amount of seed passing from the hopper 6 and feeding downward through the opening 10 the bottom 8 of said hopper, and as said disk rotates the holes 17 are brought into alinement with the feed-hole 15 in the supporting-plate 13, through which the seed drop down into the feed-chute 7. As the feed-holes 17 come into alinement with the hole 15 one plunger 12 strokes the hole, leaving it level full of seed, and when the hole comes below the other plunger the latter forces the seed through the hole and into the chute 7. The springs serve to project the plungers and at the same time to allow them to recede under pressure from the holes 1.7 and ride upon the surface of the disk 16. Into the opening 18 of the disk 16 fits a coupling plate or disk 20, which is provided with lugs 21 to seat within the notches '19 and positively connect said plates or disks together to rotate in unison. Projecting upwardly through the center of the coupling plate or disk is a pin or bolt 22,

having its head seated in a socket in the under side of the bevel-pinion 23 and the extremity of its stem threaded to receive a nut 24, whereby it is held in position. The pinion 23 is formed with a hub 25, which extends loosely through the opening 14 in the supporting-plate 13 and is provided with pins or projections 26, which enter sockets in the under side of the coupling-plate 20 and connect said plate to turn with the pinion. By this construction it will be seen that as the pin-- I of the two hoppers 6 receives motion from a transverse shaft 27, journaled in the front portion of the frame 1, which shaft is provided within the upper portion of each seedchute or discharge-tube 7 with a fixed bevel gear-wheel 28, which meshes with the pinion 23, and thereby communicates motion to the rotary feed-disk 16. The seed falling from the hopper into the seed-chute 7 drop into a discharge-opening formed in an oscillating valve 29, mounted upon a pivot pin or bolt 30 in the base of the chute and jointed to the lower end of a vibrating lever 31, which is adapted to be operated by a tappet block or lug 32, fixed upon the shaft 27. At each half-revolution of the shaft a predetermined amount of seed when planting isdischarged into the said tube and falls into the pocket or opening of the oscillating dischargevalve 29, and simultaneously therewith the knocker-block 32 operates to move the vibratinglever 31, which oscillates the valve to bring the pocket or opening therein into position to allow the seed to discharge into the furrow formed by the shoe or runner 5 and also to close the feed-chute 7 at the top of oscillating ,valve 20. A plate-spring or ribbon-spring 33 bears against the valve and lower arm of the vibrating lever and serves to restore the same to their normal positions after being operated by the said knockerblock.

The seed-dropping mechanism above described is controlled through the instrumentality of the following compensating mechanism: On the drive-shaft 2 is mounted a sleeve 34, which is fixed thereto by means of a set-screw 35, and is provided with radial arms 36, carrying stub-shafts 37, on which are revolubly mounted cone-shapedbevel-pinions 38. On one side of these pinions is mounted a bevel gear-wheel 39, which turns loosely on the shaft 2 and is formed with a laterallyprojecting sleeve 40, which is adapted to bear against a collar 41, rigidly secured to said shaft, and has formed thereon a sprocketwheel 42, which is connected, by means of a sprocket-chain 43, with a sprocket-wheel or pinion 44 on the forward transverse shaft 27, whereby said latter shaft is driven. On the opposite side of the pinions 38 is arranged a double-bevel gear-wheel 45, which is loosely mounted on the axle 2 and is adapted to bear against a collar 45, rigidly secured to said axle. In the normal arrangement of the parts when the seed-dropping mechanism is not running the pinions 38 contact only with the toothed face of the gear-wheel 39, and as the gearing of the dropper mechanism opposes a resistance to the rotation of said wheel 39 the pinions 38 do not turn the same, but simply rotate on their axes (the short shafts 37) in contactwithsaidgear. Duringthisoperation of the parts the inner toothed face of the double gear-wheel 45 is out of mesh with the pinions 38. hen it is desired to throw the seeddropping mechanism into operation, the double-bevel gear is moved inwardly on the shaft or axle 2 away from the collar 45 toward the pinions 38, so as to bringits inner toothed face into mesh therewith, whereby upon said double-bevel gear being held stationary the pinions will be caused to transmit motion to the loose gear 39,by means of which motion is communicated to the sprocket-wheel 42 and from said sprocket-wheel, through the medium of the chain 43 and sprocket-wheel or pinion 44, to the transverse shaft 27, whereby motion is imparted to the rotary feed-disks of the said dropping mechanism in the manner heretofore described. The double gear-wheel 45 is adapted to be revolved and moved toward the pinion 38 and held in engagement therewith by means of a controlling-rod 46, which carries at its lower end a fixed pinion 47, which is adapted to mesh with the outer toothed face of the gear-wheel 45. The rod 46 is vertically movable to bring the pinion 47 into and out of gear with the gear-wheel 45 and is mounted to slide at its lower end in an eye 48 on a bracket 49 and at its upper end through an opening formed in a notched or toothed plate 50, Fig. 10. The bracket 49 is formed at its lower end with a hanger 51, which pivotally connects it with the shaft 2 to swing in the arc of a circle in a direction longitudinally of the frame and has a pawl 52, which is adapted to cooperate with a rack 53, secured to the frame 1 to hold it securely in adjusted position. The bracket 49 is also formed with a socket, in which is stopped or fitted the lower end of a standard 54, which is secured at its upper end to the notched or toothed plate 50 and serves as a support for said plate and for the upper end of the controlling-rod 46. The rod 46 is bent at right angles at its upper end to form a bearing 55 for a pivoted hand-lever 56, which is formed at one end with a crankhandle 57 and at its other end with a fixed pawl or dog 58, having a cam-shaped end or extremity 58, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. This dog is adapted to engage in the notches between teeth 59, formed upon the upper surface of the plate 50, to hold the rod or shaft against rotary movement and is norm ally held seated by means of a pressure spring 60, mounted upon the said angular end 55 of said rode When it is desired to withdraw the pinion 47 from engagement with the double gearwheel 45, the handle 57 of the lever 56 is grasped and forced upwardly, thereby bringing the rounded or cam-shaped extremity 58 of the pawl into engagement with the plate 50 and causing it to act as a fulcrum, whereby the controlling-rod 46 is elevated and the pinion 47 withdrawn from engagement with said doublegear-wheel. The purpose of mounting the bracket 49 to swing upon the axle or shaft 2 is to permit of the controlling-rod being swung backward and forward, according to the position of the drivers seat 84 upon the seat-bar S2 to adjust the lever 56 to the front or rear, so as to be within easy reach of the operator from his position on said seat. The pawl 52'is withdrawn from engagement with the rack 53 to permit of this swinging movement of the controlling-rod and associated parts and is then engaged with the rack to hold said rod and parts in adjusted position.

By means of the rod 46, pinion 47, and handlever 56 the compensating gearing may be thrown into and out of action and regulated to drive the shaft 27 at varying speeds to stop the dropping mechanism and to operate the same to drop the seed fast or slow, as circumstances may require. The compensating gearing is thrown into and out of action by moving the pinion 47 into and out of engagement with the outer toothed face of the double -bevel gear 45, as hereinbefore described. When the pinion 47 is brought into engagement with the gear 45 and the latter 1 is forced inward thereby to bring its innertoothed face in engagement with the pinions 1 38, the parts are disposed as in Fig. 4 for operation to drive the dropper mechanism at its normal speed. The parts of the gearing are so proportioned and arranged that when said parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 4 and the bevel-gear 45 is held stationary by the pinion 47 the motion of the axle 2 will be communicated to the gear-wheel 39 and multiplied through the action of the pinions 38 i to rotate said gear-wheel 39 at a higher rate volving twice upon each revolution of the axle 2. When itis desired to have the dropper mechanism operated at less speed, the

crank-handle 57 of the lever 56 is forced down to release the pawl 58 from engagement with the teeth on the toothed plate 50, and said crank-handle is then turned to rotate the rod in the proper direction to cause the pinion 47 to turn the double-bevel gear-wheel 45 forwardly or in the direction of revolution of the axle 2. The pinions 33 will then look the two gearwheels 39 and 45 together, and as the gear-wheel 45-is permitted to rotate by the rotation of the rod 46 and pinion 47 it will be seen that both gears will be caused to turn with the axle 2 and to therefore make one revolution upon each revolution of said axle, thereby driving the dropper mechanism at a lower rate of speed. When, on the other hand, it is desired to drive the dropper mechanism at a much higher rate of speed than that afforded by holding the gear 45 fixed or that afforded by turning said gear forwardly, this may be accomplished by turning the rod 46 and pinion 47 by the hand-lever 57 to revolve the gear 45 rearwardly, whereupon the pinions 38 will be revolved in a reverse direction or in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the sleeve 34, producing a change in leverage which causes a correspondingly greater speed of revolution of the pinions 38, whereby higher speed is imparted to the gear-wheel 39. It will thus be seen that by simply holding the gear-wheel 45 fixed or by turning it in one direction or the other the speed of the gear-wheel 39 may be varied to operate the dropper mechanism slow,.fast, or at normal speed, as desired or circumstances may require.

Cooperating with the feed mechanism are markers 61, which mark the point of deposit of the seed. These markers are arranged in pairs upon each end of the transverse shaft 27, and each marker consists of a curved or serpentine-shaped spring-blade provided at its outer end with a series of teeth or spurs 62, which are adapted to penetrate the ground to mark the point of the dropping of the seed. The markers of each pair are arranged upon diametrically opposite sides of the shaft 27 to come into contact with the ground alternately, one at each half-revolution of the shaft, and are secured to said shaft in the following manner: Upon the end of the shaft is secured a sleeve or collar 63, fixed thereto by a set-screw 64, carrying an outwardly-projecting disk 65, the opposite faces of which are corrugated or serrated. The inner ends 'of the markers 61 are rigidly secured to corresponding disks 66, the inner faces of which are corrugated to interlock with the corrugated faces of said disk 65. A pin or bolt 66 passes through these disks and removably connects them, so that the disks 66 may be withdrawn from engagement with the disks and turned to adjust the markers of each of speed than said axle, the gear-wheel 39 repair toward and from each other to adapt them to strike the ground with greater or less force according to the condition of the ground,

whether hard or soft, to make clear and dis- Linct marks. The spring metal of which the markers are made renders them sufficiently flexible to ride over stones and other obstructions without strain or injury.

It will be readily understood from the foreintervals between the dropping of each charge of seed.

A gage plate or runner 67 is provided to make a mark to drive by and is mounted upon the outer end of a reversible bar 68, which is mounted so as to be swung to operate upon either side of the machine. The inner end of this rod or bar 68 is secured to one of the arms of a double-crank shaft 69, mounted in a bearing 70 on the frame 1. The other arm of this shaft is connected by means of a chain 71 to a rearwardly-projecting arm 72 on a sleeve 73 upon the shaft2. This sleeve has also a forwardly-extending arm 74, which is slotted to receive a guide and connectingpiece 75, fixed upon the rear end of the pole or tongue 4, which guide piece is formed with one or more openings 76 for the reception of a stop-pin 77, which limits the extreme depth of penetration of the soil by the runners 5. A coil-spring 78 surrounds the guide-piece and presses upon the tongue 4 to force the runners into the ground, while permitting them to ride over stones and other obstructions without injury. Connected to the sleeve 73 is an adjusting and reversing lever 79, which is fitted with a pawl 80, cooperating with a rack 81. on the frame 1 to hold said lever in adjusted position. By throwing this lever to the front or rear the rod or arm 68 may be elevated from either side of the machine on which it is working to a point beyond the center or perpendicular, so as to allow it to drop by gravity to bring the shoe or runner 67 into contact with the ground to operate upon the other side of the machine, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 17 ofthe drawings. The lever 79 is also used to raise the runners 5 out of the ground at the same time it raises the gage 68 or to put greater pressure upon the spring 78 to force the runners deeper into the soil. It Will be readily understood that pressure is placed upon said spring by adjusting the lever forwardly.

If desired,mechanism of any preferred kind may be employed to keep the wheels 3 clear of accumulated soil. In the presentinstance a device is employed consisting of a rockshaft 91, provided with shoes or scrapers 92 to bear upon the rims of the carrying and covering Wheels 3. This rock-shaft has connected thereto a crank 93, to which is jointed the rear end of a connecting-rod 94, which is pivoted at its forward end to an operatinglever 95, whereby the shaftmay be oscillated to throw the scrapers into and out 'of contact with the wheels, as will be clearly understood.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

the construction, mode of operation, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood without a further extended description.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention is as herein disclosed, changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a corn-planter, the combination with a hopper and a feed-chute below the hopper; of a hopper-bottom pivoted to the feed-chute and adapted to be tilted to expose the feed mechanism, said hopper-bottom being pro vided with an opening for the discharge of the seed, a shaft carrying a driving-gear and a knocker-block, a supporting-plate mounted upon the feed-chute and provided with a feedhole, a rotary feed-plate mounted between the bottom of the hopper and the supportingplate and provided with feed-holes and with a central opening having communicating notches, a coupling-plate fitted in said opening and provided with lugs or projections to engage said notches, a bolt or shaft projecting through the supporting-plate and coupling-plate, a drive-pinion having a journal fitted in the central opening in the supporting-plate and provided with projections removably engaging the coupling-plate, said pinion meshing with said driving-gear, an OS- cillating valve mounted in the bottom of the feed-chute and having a passage forming a pocket for the reception and discharge of the seed, a vibrating lever connected to the valve and adapted to be operated by the knockerblock to open said valve, a spring acting on the valve and lever for retracting the same to their normal positions, and controllable drive-gearing for imparting motion to the shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a corn-planter, the combination with a frame and drive-shaft, of a feed hopper and chute, a rotary feed-disk within the hopper for controlling the passage of seed from the hopper to the chute, a shaft in gear with said feed-plate for operating the same, and means for communicating motion from the driveshaft to the feed-disk-operating shaft, the same comprising a sleeve fiXed'to the driveshaft and carrying revoluble bevel-pinions, a bevel gear-wheel loosely mounted upon the drive-shaft upon one side of said sleeve, connections between said bevel gear-wheel and the feed-disk-operating shaft, a double-bevel gear-Wheel loosely mounted upon the driveshaft upon the opposite side of said sleeve, and means for moving said double gear-Wheel into engagement with the bevel-pinions, substantially as described.

3. In a corn-planter, the combination with a frame and drive-shaft, of a feed hopper and chute, a rotary feed-disk within the hopper for controlling the passage of seed from the hopper to the chute, a shaft in gear with said feed-plate for operating the same, means for communicating motion from the drive-shaft to the feed-disk-operating shaft, the same comprising a sleeve fixed to the drive-shaft and carrying revoluble bevel-pinions, a loose bevel gearovheel mounted upon the driveshaft upon one side of said pinions, gearing between said loose gear-wheeland the operating-shaft for the feed-disk, a double-bevel gear-Wheel loose upon the drive-shaft upon the other side of said pinions, a controllingrod vertically movable and provided with a bevel-pinion to engage the outer toothed face of the double-bevel gear, and means for raising and lowering said controlling-rod to bring the bevel-pinion thereon into and out of engagement with said doublebevel gear, substantially as described.

4:. In a corn-planter, the combination with a frame and drive-shaft, of a feed hopper and chute, a rotary feed-disk within the hopper for controlling the passage of seed from the hopper to the chute, ashaft in gear with said feedplate for operating the same, means for communicating motion from the drive-shaft to the feed-disk-operating shaft, the same comprising a sleeve fixed to the drive-shaft and carrying revoluble bevel-pinions, a loose bevel gear-wheel mounted upon the driveshaft upon one side of said pinions, gearing between said loose gear-Wheel and the operating-shaft for the feed-disk, a double-bevel gear-wheel loose upon the drive-shaft upon the other side of said pinions, a controllingrod provided with a bevel-pinion to engage the outer toothed face of the double-bevel gear-wheel, and means for raising and lowering the controlling-rod and turning the same, substantially as described.

5. In a corn-planter, the combination with a frame and drive-shaft, of a feed hopper and chute, a rotary feed-disk within the hopper for controlling the passage of seed from the hopper to the chute, ashaft in gear with said feed-plate for operating the same, means for communicating motion from the drive-shaft to the feed-disk-operating shaft, the same comprising a sleeve fixed to the drive-shaft and carrying revoluble bevel-pinions, a loose bevel gear-Wheel mounted upon the driveshaft upon one side of said pinions, gearing between said loose gear-wheel and the operating-shaft for the feed-disk, a double-bevel gear-wheel loose upon the drive-shaft upon the other side of said pinions, a controllingrod provided with a bevel-pinion to engage the outer toothed face of the double-bevel gear-wheel, a swinging bracket with which the controlling-rod is slidably engaged, a standard supported by the bracket, a plate connected to the standard and having an opening for the passage of the upper end of the controlling-rod and a series of teeth or notches, a lever pivoted to the upper end of the controlling rod and adapted to bear against said plate to elevate the rod, and to be turned to rotate the rod, and means for holding the bracket fixed in adjusted positiou, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID ELEY.

Witnesses:

CHAS. R. MILLER, CHAS. M. BALL. 

